I've trained at numerous gyms in the past, but it's always ended up being nogi. Either open mat days, or happens to be a nogi day.
In a few weeks, I'll be traveling out of state and plan on hitting a couple of the gyms in the area. Two of the gyms have gi classes that I want to attend.
I have 3 gi's. One that is a competition gi that has sponsor/school patches. Two training gi's: one with school patches and one that really sucks and I hate wearing b/c the collar is too rigid and chokes me with the slightest pressure.
Which gi is appropriate/respectful to wear when visiting gyms? Does it really matter?
I was actually having this discussion just the other day with a friend, I'll be heading up to NYC and wanted to make sure that I brought the right stuff. The first thing was to check with whomever the Instructor is, I just sent and email and told them who I was and that I was planning on stopping by. Asked about their drop in policy and what they charged for Mat fee's etc. With the instructor I contacted he just told me no worries on which Gi, I'm probably going to still wear one of my more plane gi's just to not be the guy advertising six billion sponsors/schools, and explained their drop in policies.
So I would say call the places up and just ask their preferences. I have found that being upfront when communicating to different teams gets me a lot farther in terms of "proper etiquette" than anything else.
Train Hard
it pretty much never matters w what gi you have. Unless you are say going to Rickson's or something where they like you to wear a white gi, 99.9% of places could care less. Just email asking for class times, telling what your rank is, and ask what the drop in fees are. And you can also just show up and ask this too, but if you do make sure you get there early enough so that you are not just disrupting class if possible. All of this helps you out more as it can let you already have cash ready and lets you know when you can get there so you can get to training, as this is not some strict rule that has to be enforced if you are a visitor.
As for the respect thing, I have to always laugh when people ask this. Basically, use proper behavior as you would w ANYBODY in any situation and you will be fine.
wear your school patch, just remember: if you suck: everytime these people see that patch they're going to think of how awful you were.. patch = representitive.
I thought that I read somewhere that some teachers think that it is disresepctful to your home school to not wear yout home school patches/gi when training somwhere else. So basically these teachers think that if you are training at their school for the day they expect you to still wear your home schools gi or you are disrespecting where you normally train.
Then again, I might have just made that up.
wear all of them....can't go wrong there...
As for the respect thing, I have to always laugh when people ask this. Basically, use proper behavior as you would w ANYBODY in any situation and you will be fine.
Oh of course. That's not what I was meaning by respect. I just know that some instructors care more about some things than others.
I've never had a problem wearing my gi with my school patch on the back when visiting. It's a nice gi; I like rolling in it better than the blank one I have.
Most instructors, even the "big names" have been cool as shit. I just either call or drop in a bit earlier to talk to them first. I've never asked which gi to wear because it never really seemed that important next to just being respectful and a good training partner.
If you visit my school please wear the gi the easy choke gi.
Were are you going to be at 1st would give us a idea of what to wear or not to wear ?
Going to St. Louis. Will be there for approximately 2-3 weeks for some contract work.
Looking at the following gyms:
Vaghi Martial Arts - Rodrigo Vaghi
http://www.submissionjiujitsu.com
North Broadway BJJ - Bryan Guidry
http://www.guidrytraining.com/
If my contract ends at 2 weeks in St. Louis, then I'll spend 1-2 weeks on another contract in Little Rock. Otherwise, I'll head home.
I'm looking at visiting Roli Delgado's gym.
http://www.kickboxingandbjj.com/Westside_MMA/Home.html
Roli I know does not care what you wear. Him and Matt welcome anyone to train at there gym, there is nothing but good people there. Now for the other ones call them up and ask but for the most part I would wear what I brought unless they give you something esle to wear.
Paraphrasing Xande from a seminar two years ago:
"If I see you have no patch I wonder what sort of person are you? What is your heritage? What do you stand/fight for? If you don't have a patch you are like a stray dog in the street. You stand for nothing, only yourself, where is your honor?"
Rep your school bro don't be a stray dog.
Roli and Matt are good people! Heck Matt was the first bjj bb to work with me waaaay back when I a lowly striped white belt, lol.
Vaghi's gym was the school I was more concerned with. I would of called before, but was wanting to avoid asking a stupid question.
I've spoken to Roli at tournaments before. Very nice guy. Really hoping I can visit his gym.
Judo Scott - Paraphrasing Xande from a seminar two years ago:
"If I see you have no patch I wonder what sort of person are you? What is your heritage? What do you stand/fight for? If you don't have a patch you are like a stray dog in the street. You stand for nothing, only yourself, where is your honor?"
Rep your school bro don't be a stray dog.
lol, who cares. Hell I rep my school hard but hate patches. Never have worn them, never will, and do not care what others ever think about that. Do what YOU want and do not give in to idiotic peer pressure.
i am going to italy...when i train there i will wear my Andreh Anderson blue belt proudly.....i have no patches so i will just sream his name loudly every time i go for a submission....
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Hunter V -Judo Scott - Paraphrasing Xande from a seminar two years ago:
"If I see you have no patch I wonder what sort of person are you? What is your heritage? What do you stand/fight for? If you don't have a patch you are like a stray dog in the street. You stand for nothing, only yourself, where is your honor?"
Rep your school bro don't be a stray dog.
lol, who cares. Hell I rep my school hard but hate patches. Never have worn them, never will, and do not care what others ever think about that. Do what YOU want and do not give in to idiotic peer pressure.
Really? You have a problem with having your team patch on your back? I can't compute that at all.
I just don't like patches. Dude, if I even buy a gi and it has big ass patches on the sleeve or on the lapel I get that mess off. It just normally looks shitty to me. Now mind you, I might one day change my opinion on that (and if I do it will be because I see a patch that I don't actually mind having), but in my 14yrs of training in a LOT of martial arts, I don't do patches. And nobody is ever making me do it either as I am grown.
The Elastic Assassin - i am going to italy...when i train there i will wear my Andreh Anderson blue belt proudly.....i have no patches so i will just sream his name loudly every time i go for a submission....
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNDDDDDDDDRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Better start working on yo calf raises, fren!!!